Shore Smiles

You can't visit Virginia Beach and not experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Hot Tuna Bar and Grill. This is one of the area's premier nightlife spots for great food, great fun and great entertainment. Both the food and drink menus are extensive and feature the best seafood and steaks as well as imported beers that will satisfy appetites (and thirsts) of every size. Plus, the venue offers the best live bands and DJs that play the best Top 40 music. There's never a cover and you can always find plenty of free parking in close proximity to the fun.

The two of you will enjoy escaping the present and journeying to Virginia Beach's dramatic past when you plan a romantic date at the Francis Land House Historic Site. This is a 200-year-old plantation home that has been restored down to the last detail and is open for guided tours and special events. Each room in the house is decorated to reflect the furniture and other items of the period, complete with stunning antiques and reproductions that offer visitors a rare opportunity to peer into how the gentry class of the area used to live.

History and nature come together in a truly memorable way at the Cape Henry Lighthouse. This lighthouse, established in 1791, has the distinction of being one of the country's oldest government-built lighthouses. The historic attraction played a key role in the commercial development of the area as well as a dramatically historic one–it is located near where the English settlers arrived in 1607. Even though it sustained damage during the Civil War, it was restored and promises a truly breathtaking view when you ascend to its top lookout point. Tours are available. The lighthouse is open all year except from December 1st to January 5.

Gallop your way to a truly fun outdoor experience when you visit the East Coast Equestrian Training Center in Virginia Beach. Learn from the experts about how to properly ride a horse as well as all the other interesting and necessary information that is needed to ensure a safe and fun ride. And, the center is only seven miles from the closest beach, so you can plan to enjoy a relaxing (and memorable) horseback ride along some of Virginia Beach's most scenic stretches of coastline.